Exotic animals seized from Warren garage appear healthy

Lemurs, coatis and foxes are among 30 animals that continued to receive care at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak Thursday, a day after the pets were seized from the garage of a Warren home.

The two white-nosed coatis, three fennec foxes and two ring-tailed lemurs were discovered along with several rabbits and birds kept in small cages on Frazho Road, zoo officials said.

An animal control officer contacted the Detroit Zoological Society after capturing a coati on the loose in the Warren neighborhood, north of 10 Mile and west of Mound Road.

That capture led to the discovery of the other animals. Eight zoo animal and veterinary staff members evaluated the animals at the scene and helped to remove some of them.

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“The conditions these animals were being kept in were deplorable,” said Elizabeth Arbaugh, curator of mammals.

She said the animals appeared to be in relatively good health, consider where they were kept.

“There could be some possible health issues. We’ll know more after a complete evaluation,” she said.

Warren police officials did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Some of the animals remain under quarantine at the Detroit Zoo’s Ruth Roby Glancy Animal Health Complex as veterinary staff provided property health care and proper diets. Others were expected to be transferred Thursday to the Michigan Humane Society, although permanent placement was not immediately determined.

Michigan law bans the possession as a “pet” of any member of the Felidae family (large cats), including their hybrids; any bear species; and any wolf-hybrid unless the animal was possessed prior to July 7, 2000. A prior entry permit must be obtained from the director for all other wild animal or exotic animal species not listed above or regulated by the fish and wildlife service of the United States Department of Interior’s fish and wildlife service, or the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Prior to an exotic animal entering Michigan, the DNR may require the possessor to have the animal examined by an accredited veterinarian “to determine the health status, proper housing, husbandry and confinement standards are being met,” according to state law.

The legal fate of the Warren resident who had the animals in his garage is unknown. Attorneys on Warren’s in-house legal staff were not immediately available for comment Thursday.

While some municipalities have ordinances regulating exotic animals, Warren does not.

Detroit Zoo officials are frequently asked to assist in the rescue of exotic animals from private owners, circuses, pseudo-sanctuaries and roadside zoos. Previous rescues include more than 1,000 exotic animals that were confiscated from an animal wholesaler in Texas; a polar bear from a tropical circus; and lions kept in a junkyard in Kansas.

“Privately owned exotic animals kept as pets often end up in compromised conditions and in need of rescue,” Detroit Zoological Society Executive Director and CEO Ron Kagan. “We previously worked with the Michigan Humane Society and other organizations to pass legislation barring the owner of exotic animals in Michigan.”

Care of the seized animals is supported by the Kalter/Lezotte fund for Wildlife Rescue, which was established by the zoological group to facilitate the rescue of animals with the intent to provide sanctuary at the Detroit Zoo.